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President Gerald Ford bites into a tamale after a tour of the Alamo on April 10, 1976.
After Wednesday’s debate "Oops," Rick Perry’s crew sent out a fundraising letter spinning it forward by asking supporters, "So, what agency would you most like to forget?"
The letter makes mention of a few famous gaffes from politicians who made it to the White House, including this: "Gerald Ford ate a tamale without removing the husk."
For those who weren’t around, here’s a look back at the "Great Tamales Incident" of 1976, offered up here as a side dish to our quick look at debate statements that reminded us of previous fact checks.
Then-President Ford tucked into a plate of tamales during a San Antonio visit, unaware the good part comes wrapped inside a less-edible corn husk. The "Incident" tickled the public fancy enough to make national news -- probably helped by Ford’s image on "Saturday Night Live" as a serial bumbler.
Perry is taking the bull by the horns with a planned appearance Thursday on David Letterman’s show, but Saturday night he may want to turn off his TV.
Our Sources
Email, "So, what agency would you most like to forget?", Rick Perry campaign, Nov. 10, 2011
San Antonio Express-News news story, "No one told Ford tamales need to be unwrapped," Dec. 31, 2006
